Eleusine tristachya
Common name
three-spiked goose-grass
Family
Poaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Grasses
Conservation status
Not applicable
Brief description
Tufted perennial grass to 20 cm tall; leaves folded with blunt boat-shaped tips. Inflorescence of 2-4 spikes, each with 2 rows of spikelets on one side.
Distribution
Few records in NZ. Flora NZ Vol. 5: 524 gives Gisborne, Hastings, Whanganui + one early record from Wellington.
Habitat
Waste areas - dry sand, gravel; lawns.
Similar taxa
Crowsfoot grass (E. indica) is an annual and is usually larger with inflorescences of (1–)2–8(–10) spikes
Flowering
January–February
Flower colours
Cream
Fruiting
March–April
Propagation technique
seed
Year naturalised
1896
Origin
South America
Reason for introduction
Perhaps a grass seed contaminant